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VNTO THE REVEREND and honorable Lorde Mychaell de Sylua Bisshop of viseo.
AFter the Lorde Guidubal∣do of Montefeltro Duke of Urbin was departed out of this life, cer∣tein other Gentilmen and I that had bine seruauntes to him, con∣tinued in seruyce wyth Duke Francescomaria Della Rouere hys heire & successor in the state:* 1.1 And whyle the sauour of the vertues of Duke Guidubaldo was fresh in my mynde, and the great delite I took in those yeeres in the louing companie of so excellent Personages as then were in the Court of Urbin: I was prouoked by the memorie therof to write these bookes of the Courtier. The which I accomplished in a fewe dayes, myndinge in time to amende those faultes that spronge of the desire that I had speedilie to paye this debt. But fortune now manie yeeres hath alwayes kept me vnder in suche continuall trauayles, that I coulde neuer gete leyser to bringe it to the passe that my feeble iudgement might be throughlie sa∣tisfied with all. At such time therfore as I was in Spayne, being aduertised out of Italy how